Improvement in hemp-brakes



PATENT @FFICEO STEPHEN STAFFORD, OF CARROLL COUNTY, MISSOURI.

- r IMPROVEMENT IN H EMP=BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,900, dated July 28, 18 57.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN STAFFORD, of the county of Carroll and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Machine for Breaking and Preparing Hemp for Market; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective viewof a hemp-breaking machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the fixed sash and feeding-hopper. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the vibrating sash; and Fig. 4 represents a crosssection through the line a; w of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the swords.

The object of my improvements is to obtain a more equable distribution of the action of the swords or beaters of hemp-breaking machines throughoutthe entire series of such swords or beaters, to diminish the liability of the swords to break or out the thready fibers of the stalks, and also to prevent the vibrations of the stalks from extending upward to the hand of the attendant.

My improvements for effecting these objects consist, first, in arranging the swords in their respective sashes at unequal distances apart, the spaces between their faces decreasing from the upper sword of the series, which first acts upon the hemp,to the lower sword,which last acts upon it, by which arrangement the action of the different-swords becomes more uniform, and the lower swords are rendered more ef fective in separating the woody part of the stalks from the thready fiber or (as it is termed) harl, than by the mode heretofore adopted of arranging the swords at uniform distances apart throughoutthe series; second, in arranging the swords in either the movable or fixed v sash, so that the spaces between their corre- In the accompanying drawings a hempbreaking machine embracing my improvements is represented.

A strong frame. A,wellbraced, supports the breaking apparatus, which consists of two sashes, B B, one, B, of which is fixed to the frame, and the other, B, movable, vibrating back and forth within the stationary one. In the fixed sash, B, two series of horizontal bars, a, or (as they are termed) swords are arranged directly opposite each other, and between the sides of the framing forming the sash to which. their ends are secured. The spaces or vertical distancesbetween the swords decrease by successive gradations from the upper to the lower sword forming the series. The horizontal distances between the breaking edges-of two series of swords remain thesame throughout, so that their edges arein thesame vertical plane. In the vibrating sash B two other series of swords are also arranged inthe same manner as those in the fixed sash B,with this exception, that the horizontal distance between the breaking edges in the two series diminish from the upper to the lower sword by regular gradations. This sash is supported by V-shaped ways on the under side, and the swords b alternate with those in the fixed sash and vibrate back and forth between them. At the end of the motion in either direction the lower swords only in the two sashes interlock. The distance they interlock decreases from the lower sword upward, so that the upperswords are separated a short distance, owing to whichthe stalks of hemp when subjected to theiraction are crushed and broken without being bent, except in a slight degree, after which it becomes sufficiently flexible to be bent short when coming under the action vof the lower swords without injury to the harl.

A hopper, F, for feeding the hemp to the breakers,is located on the top of the frame over the stationary swords. The opposite sides ff of this hopper slope inward until the space bev tween them is contracted to the width of the space between the series of stationary swords. This width is preserved regular and uniform for a sufficient distance to hold the hemp and prevent the vibration communicated to it by the swords'from extending to the hand of the operator and switching the hemp from his hand. The hemp passes vertically between the swords, and the whole length of the stalk.

' zontal shaft, communicates avibratory motion to the sash. Owing to the vertical spaces between the swords being diminished from the upper to the lower swords of the series, their action upon the stalks is rendered more uniform as the hemp in passing through the machine becomes gradually decreased in bulk, and as the spaces between the swords are also decreased these spaces are filled by the hemp when the swords interlock at the end of their motion, by which means the stalks are not only-subjected to the whipping action of the edges of the lower swords, but are also subjected to the abrading action of the sides of the swords, which renders them more effective in removing the woody fiber from the harl.

I do not confine myself to arranging the vibrating swords, so that the spaces between their edges shall decrease from the upper to the lower sword in the series, as the stationary swords maybe arranged in that manner, and

the vibrating swords arranged with their edges in-the same plane. Neither do I limit myself to the number of swords composing each series, as these may be varied at pleasure.

Having thus described my improvement in hemp-breaking machines, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Arranging a series of swords in a sash at unequal distances apart and parallel to each other, the spaces between them decreasing from the upper to the lower sword of the series, for the purpose described.

2. Arranging a series of swords in a sash so that the edges of the under sword will project beyond the edge of the sword next above it throughout the entire series, for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the swordsin thestationary sash with those in the movab e sash when arranged, respectively, ineach sash, in the manner described.

STEPHEN STAFFORD.

XVitnesses:

RICHARD B. HANENKAMP, \VM. R. HYNEs. 

